Join me as I chat with Heather Scott from the International Booking Engine Platform, Freetobook, about the key considerations when selecting an online booking platform for your bed and breakfast.

Heather shares her wealth of experience as a former B&B owner and current account manager for Freetobook, offering practical insights for B&B owners at every stage.

• My background and experience running a B&B and training owners since 2006.
• Introducing Heather Scott, her experience as a former B&B owner and her current role at Freetobook.

• Differences between booking engines, PMS (property management systems), and channel managers.
• How a booking engine manages bookings, payments, and guest communications.

The essential role booking engines play in guest convenience and business profitability.

Why not having an online booking system could hurt your business.

• Online booking capability for customers.
• Payment processing and security (GDPR, multi-factor authentication).
• Channel management to sync with platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb. Communication features to build guest relationships.
• Reporting and analytics for managing occupancy, pricing, and more.

• Practical tips for researching booking engines, including seeking recommendations and testing user experience.
• Understanding pricing models—monthly fees, pay-as-you-go, and hidden charges.
• Key questions to ask potential providers, such as support availability and flexibility with online travel agents (OTAs).

Visit Freetobook at www.freetobook.co.uk to book a demo or contact their support team in Glasgow.

Visit Bed and Breakfast Academy for more blog posts, podcasts, and courses.

Check out the mini workshop for those considering starting a B&B.

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Enjoy the episode and happy hosting!